Benmont Tench
Benmont Tench
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Benmont Tench is the American keyboardist and vocalist best known as a founding member of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on September 7, 1953
Nationality and Profession(s)
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American musician (keyboardist, vocalist)
Early Life and Background
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Benmont Tench was born in Florida to Mary Lou and Edward Tench. His father was a lawyer, and the family moved frequently during his childhood. Benmont's early life was marked by an interest in music, with piano being the primary instrument he learned at home.
Tench's early exposure to rock 'n' roll came through classic artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis and The Beatles. He began playing piano professionally while still a teenager and eventually formed bands that would evolve into the Heartbreakers. This band would become his most notable contribution to music history.
Major Accomplishments
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- Heartbreaker Formation: Tench, along with Tom Petty and Mike Campbell, formed the Heartbreakers in 1976.
- Keyboard Contributions: He brought a distinctive keyboard sound to the band's music, which became an essential part of their style.
- Songwriting Credits: Benmont wrote several songs for the Heartbreakers, including "It'll All Work Out" and "I Need to Know."
- Recording Sessions: Tench was involved in numerous recording sessions with his bandmates and other artists.
Notable Works or Actions
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The Heartbreakers' music career spanned over three decades, during which they released 12 studio albums. Some of their most notable works include _Damn the Torpedoes_ (1979) and _Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)_ (1987).
Benmont Tench has also worked with other artists such as Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, and Bruce Springsteen.
Impact and Legacy
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As a founding member of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, Benmont Tench played an integral role in shaping the band's sound. His unique keyboard style is instantly recognizable in their music.
Tench's contributions to rock 'n' roll are substantial, with his work influencing many musicians who followed in his footsteps.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Benmont Tench's influence on 80s rock 'n' roll cannot be overstated. His distinctive keyboard sound helped define the style of the Heartbreakers and left a lasting impact on the genre as a whole.
Tench has been quoted in various interviews about his time with the Heartbreakers, sharing insights into their creative process and the band's enduring legacy.
Quotes by Benmont Tench
I never liked the showboat guys who called attention to themselves, who turned the Leslie on and waved their hands up in the air.
There was a period when I wrote in Nashville for Maverick and then Warner/Chappell, and it was interesting.
We've had producers who've all shared at least one thing. They've all recognized that Tom and Mike write great songs and that's what it's about.
With U2, I got to see how another band worked, and you get to try to listen like they listen because you want to fit into their songs.
You can go crazy and play solos in the right place, and that's great because it can intensify and bring an emotional lift. But the thing is you don't want to get in the way of the song.
The people that call me to play on records call me because they think that I will suit their music. And the people whose music I suit are by and large people that I'm a fan of.
I'm not an overly skilled piano player or organ player at all, but I think I'm the right piano and organ player for the Heartbreakers. And I've been the right piano and organ player for a lot of sessions that I've been called on.
I learned to play piano in a rock n' roll context or band context from country records - you know, Floyd Cramer - and from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and Stax. And none of those are keyboard records.